Late abandonment spoils seven-goal Stroud League thriller

An 85th minute abandonment spoiled an enthralling Stroud League fixture between Longlevens 5ths and Gloster Rovers.

As part of our featured game double-header, the all-Gloucester derby served up almost anything and everything you could have hoped for before the official decided to call time on the proceedings early.

After seeing Gloster Rovers turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead, two late goals had seen Longlevens 5ths 4-3 ahead with five minutes of normal time remaining and after Gloster boss Jason Squires remonstrated with the referee, he was dismissed.

Squires failed to leave the sidelines after the official had asked him to and the official made the decision to end what had been a rollercoaster of a Stroud Division 4 North fixture.

Earlier on in the piece, Levens had gone 2-0 up thanks to Danny Knight’s rebound header and Ryan Dunn’s penalty.

Gloster Rovers were right to feel aggrieved at the break though, as they weren’t given a clear penalty inside two minutes – when Kieran Squires was taken out in the box.

Levens had made their visitors pay when Ryan Dunn’s header bounced off the bar and Knight swooped to head his side in front on 23 minutes.

Dunn then converted from 12 yards when a handball was given, four minutes before the break.

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But credit to Gloster Rovers, they came out for the second half on the front foot and pulled one back inside 8 minutes, as Craig Pierce was slipped in on the left side of the box – and he made no mistake with his finish.

The visitors were level just after the hour mark as former Ramblers man, Josh Hergest, ventured forward and his cut back was swept home by an impressive Kieran Squires.

Squires fired his side ahead for the first time in the match, with twenty minutes to go, as he stepped onto a loose square pass across the Longlevens box. Squires curled his effort into the top corner leaving Gary Pocock no chance.

But Gloster couldn’t hold on and after substitute Dan MacDonald was brought down about 25 yards from goal – MacDonald stepped up to curl a free kick into the top corner, restoring parity with ten minutes to go.

And the incident that resulted in the abandonment saw Chris Thompson’s cross diverted home at the near post by Danny Knight, who claimed his second of the afternoon.

Squires and Gloster seemed upset that a foul in the build up was missed and ultimately the game was ended prematurely.

The feeling is that Longlevens 5ths will be awarded the points, but the whole incident was a sour note to end a very exciting Stroud League game.

Both sides are back in action at home next weekend, with Gloster Rovers hosting Cotswold Rangers and Longlevens 5ths welcoming Boss FC to Longford Lane.

Longlevens 5ths: Pocock, Webb, Workman, Rutter, Thornton, English, Thompson, Walsh, Dunn, Knight, Gardiner

Subs: Phillip, Merrick, MacDonald, Hall, Lewis

Gloster Rovers: Reid, Pierce, Squires, Hergest, Drew, Drinkwater, Ridler, Evans, H Williams, Clarke, Fries

Subs: Bourke, Grange, K Williams

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Danny Knight (Longlevens 5ths)